A. Being the Buddha is quite different from living as the Buddha. If someone, for example, whose father left enormous inheritance for him is living poorly from hand to mouth without being aware that he is extremely rich, is he rich, or poor?

We are like a rich man who is not aware that he is rich. So, sentient beings are referred to as Buddhas who are not aware that they are Buddhas. The purpose of Buddhism is to get sentient beings to realise that they are Buddhas.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
